...and this behavior is encouraged??

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

One of these days I swear I'm going to have a Pete Townsend moment and clobber someone with a guitar...

...or would that be a Jeff Jarrett moment?

[tinamarble88]

[sarcasm]Aw CrazedClerk, how dare you ruin a cute moment between a mother and son?! Who cares if they break the equipment, it's just too cute![/sarcasm]

[EricKei]

That sort of thing was the reason why our game kiosks were always broken at my store, too. I don't think any system (especially if it had XBOX in the name) lasted for more than one full shift from being brand-spanking new to FUBAR'd because of this. We were not allowed to troubleshoot them or replace them, either, so they just stayed broken for 6 months or better til the (game system) rep could come by again. Rinse and repeat...

After awhile, if one was so messed up (or if it was xmas season...) so as not to be usable, we'd just leave it unplugged. Then we'd get people who would plug them back in and bitch about it being broken. The usual response: "Now you know why we had it unplugged."

[bainsidhe]

Oops, it's broken now. Guess your child was hitting too hard. You even have the proof on video. The register is right over there and I'll have someone box this up for you.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I was fixing up some shelves near the back of the store last night, when all of a sudden I hear:

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

I look towards the front of the store and there's this kid of maybe 4 or 5 just beating the CRAP out of our Rock Band drum set. I mean hitting much harder then you'd ever have to play. The set itself is broken (because people are rough with it) but that doesn't really stop anyone.

So this kid banging away loud enough to be clearly heard throughout the store. While he is doing this, an adult, who turns out to be his mother is recording him with a cell phone and laughing.

I'm sure she just can't wait to get that on youtube.

I tell the mother and kid the set is broken and to please leave it alone. I then proceed to go into the back room for a minute or two. When I emerge, I hear more banging, the kid is at it again.

I make a beeline for him and his mother (who was still recording) and as soon as they see me coming, they scurry out of the store fast.

They're going to get a mean talking to if they ever show up here again.